Can opener



E. L. ZIBBELL 3,032,872

CAN OPENER May 8, 1962 Filed Aug. 1, 1960 FIG.2.

INVENTOR. ELMORE L. ZIBBELL clip.

United States Patent Ofiiice 3,032,872 Patented May 8, 1962 3,032,872 CAN OPENER Elmore L. Zibbell, Redford, Mich, assignor to Ferro Stamping Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Aug. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 46,645 9 Claims. (Cl. 308) This invention relates to a device adapted to perforate the top of a can in order that the contents thereof may be dispenesd. More particularly, this invention relates to a can punch which provides a more efficient and reliable opener for quickly and easily puncturing the top or end wall of an ordinary metal can of the liquid containing variety in order to form a pouring opening of a desirable size and configuration.

The present invention is adapted for perforating cans which have a circumferential lip, rim or bead, as an example, a beer can; or it may be used with rimless cans which have a substantially fiat end surface, as an example, a can of evaporated milk.

Such an invention is characterized by its unique structural arrangement which does not necessitate the handling of the punching or piercing instrument or tool when in use. The invention is intended for use in the kitchen or with dispensers of known type and represents a substantial departure from prior openers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device adapted to hold a can in place while an element designed to perforate the top of the can is moved so as to pierce the top of the can and while said element is being withdrawn from the opening in the can.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that has a bracket adapted to be mounted upon a vertical supporting member such as the wall of a dispenser or the wall of a kitchen. Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a can punch of extremely simple, inexpensive and durable construction, by means of which a can may be effectively pierced to form an opening through which the contents of the can are discharged.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can opener which is convenient for use by the consumer and adapted to provide a safe and easier means of opening the can.

A still further object of the present invention is to devise a novel can opener which can be economically manufactured from sheet metal by a stamping operation, and which includes a piercing element which, when in engagement with the can, is adapted to be rocked to pierce the can to provide a pouring opening therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a can opening device which includes a base adapted to be mounted on a wall, an elongated arm pivoted to said base, said arm providing means for carrying a can and for rotating a piercing element so as to puncture the can, thereby providing a pouring opening therein.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical elevational view showing the device mounted on a wall, with the piercing element out of engagement with the can.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical elevational view showing the device mounted on a wall, with the piercing element extending into the can after the piercing operation has been completed.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

The drawing shows the can opening device as represented by the numeral 10. The can opener 10 has only a few component sheet metal parts and includes the bracket '12, elongated arm 14, link 16 and link 18 which has as an integral part thereof the piercing 0r puncturing element or tool 20.

The bracket 12 of the can opening device 10 has a base 13 that has a flange :11 laterally extending therefrom. The flange 11 is adapted to be fastened to the wall 22 of a house or of a cupboard by means not shown. The base 12 has a pair of support arms 24 and 26 which extend outwardly from the wall 22. The support arm 24 extends from the base 13 in a substantially horizontal direction. Support arm 26 projects from the base 13 in an upwardly and outwardly direction as is clearly shown in the drawing. The support arm 26 is offset from the plane of the bracket 12 as is shown in FIGURE 3 so as to laterally support the elongated arm in both directions. However, either the bracket 12 or elongated arm 14 may be offset to provide the lateral support.

The elongated arm 14 has a straight side wall 15 and is connected at its upper end to the outer end of the support arm 26 by a pivot pin 28. The arm 14 includes a can carrying portion 30 which extends below the lower edge 32 of the bracket 12. The portion 30 has an elongated notch 34 provided in the wall 15 that is adapted to carry a can designated by the numeral 36. Opposite wall surfaces 38 and 4t eifectively hold the can 36 in the notch 34 against the vertical wall surface 42.

The arm 14 and, in particular, the can carrying portion 30 serves as a handle or as a means for urging the piercing element 20 through the outer end -wall of the can in a manner to be subsequently described.

The outer end of link 16 is connected to the outer end of the arm 24 by a pivot pin 44. The outer end of link 18 is fastened to bracket 14 by a pivot pin 46 at a point located approximately directly in line with the wall surface 40. The inner ends of links 16 and 18 are pivotally connected by a fulcrum pin 48. The linkage arrangement provides a pair of links 16 and 18 having their inner ends connected to provide a rocking fulcrum 48. The outer ends of the links are connected respectively to the fixed bracket arm 24 and to the lever arm or handle 14, the latter being movable to actuate the linkage to cause the element 20 to pierce the can 36.

Prior to the piercing operation, an acuate angle is formed by the intersection of the center lines joining pins 44 and 48 and pins 46 and 48. This acute angle is represented by the letter A. The piercing element or tool 24 which is integrally formed with the link 18, has a cutting edge 51) which actually performs the piercing operation.

Prior to use, the arm 14' is moved to the position shown in FIGURE 1 with the wall 15 in a substantially vertical position. The can 36 is positioned or inserted in the notch 34 provided in the arm 14 and is held therein by the wall surfaces 38 and 40.

The operator exerts a force against the can 36 as represented by the arrows so as to move the handle 14 towards the wall 22 The leverage applied is measured from the pivot pin 23 to the place where the force is exerted on the can. The maximum leverage is obtained when the force is exerted near the bottom of the can 36.

Rotation of arm 14 counterclockwise about pivot 28 in turn rotates the fulcrum point 48 in the same direc tion. As a result thereof, the piercing element 20 is brought into engagement with the end wall of the can and the cutting edge 50' pierces the end wall, thereby placing the desired hole or opening in the can 36. After the piercing operation has been completed, the operator returns the arm 14 to its original position with the piercing element 26 out of engagement with the can 36 as shown in FIGURE 1.

During the piercing operation, an obtuse angle B is formed by the links 16 and 18 as shown in FIGURE 2.

The back wall 52 of the arm portion 3% is so designed that it will not interfere with the wall 22 when moved to the position shown in FIGURE 2. Arm portion 38 provides a handle which the operator may grasp when returning the device to its original position. The edge 54 of arm 14 provides an abutment which engages the abutment as provided on the bracket 12 so as to limit the inward movement of the arm portion 3% and prevent the arm 14 from hitting the wall 22.

Thus, it can be seen that there has been provided a simple, safe acting and inexpensive device which operates eificiently and conveniently for the consumer in opening or piercing the can.

The drawing and the foregoing specification constitute a description of can opener in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A can punch comprising a body, an elongated handle pivoted on the outer end to the upper edge of said body and having a handle portion which extends below the lower edge of said body, an elongated recess formed in an edge wail of said handle portion and adapted to hold a can, a pair of expandable pivoted links, one connected to said body and the other connected to said handle portion, and a cutter element formed as an integral part of the link connected to said handle portion, said pivoted links being actuated by the rotation of said handle to cause downward movement of said cutter eiement having a downwardly facing cutting edge for punching a hole in the end wall of the can.

2. A can punch comprising a body, an elongated handle pivoted on the outer end to the upper edge of said body and having a handle portion which extends below the lower edge of said body, an elongated recess formed in an edge wall of said handle portion and adapted to hold a can, a first link connected on the outer end to said body, a second link connected on the outer end to said handle portion, said links having their inner ends pivotally connected, and a cutter formed as an integral part of said second link, said links being actuated by the rotation of said handle to cause rotation of said cutter so as to puncture a hole in the end wall of the can.

3. A can punch comprising a body, an elongated handle pivoted on the outer end to the upper edge of said body and having a handle portion which extends below the lower edge of said body, an elongated recess formed in an edge wall of said handle portion and adapted to hold a can, a first link connected on the outer end to said body, a second link connected on the outer end to said handle portion at a point located approximately behind the upper edge or" the recess, said links having their inner ends pivotally connected, and a cutter formed as an integral part of said second link, said links being actuated by the rotation of said handle to cause rotation of said cutter so as to puncture a hole in the end wall of the can.

4. A can punch comprising a bracket having upper and lower arms, an elongated handle pivoted on the outer vend to said upper arm, an elongated recess formed in an edge wall of said handle and adapted to hold a can, a first link connected on the outer end to said lower arm, a

second link connected on the outer end to said handle,

said links having their inner ends pivotally connected, and :a cutter formed as an integral part of said second link, said links being expanded by the rotation of said handle to cause downward movement of said cutter having a downwardly facing cutting edge for puncturing a hole in the end wall of the can.

5. A can punch comprising a bracket having upper and lower arms, an elongated handle pivoted on the outer end to said upper arm, an elongated recess formed in an edge wall of said handle and adapted to hold a can, a first link connected on the outer end to said lower arm, a second link connected on the outer end to said handle at a point located approximately behind the upper edge of the recess, said links having their inner ends pivotally connected, and a cutter formed as an integral part of said second link, said links being expanded by the rotation of said handle to cause downward movement of said cutter having a downwardly facing cutting edge for puncturing a hole in the end wall of the can.

6. A can punch comprising a bracket having upper and lower arms, an elongated handle pivoted on one end to said upper arm, an elongated recess formed in an edge wall of said handle near the other end thereof and adapted to receive a can, a first link pivotally connected at one end ot said lower arm, a second link pivotally connected at one end to said handle, said links having their other ends pivotally interconnected, and a cutter having a downwardly facing cutting edge connected to said second link, said links being actuated by the rotation of said handle to cause downward movement of said cutter for puncturing a hole in the end wall of the can.

7. A can punch comprising a bracket having upper and lower arms, an elongated handle pivoted on one end to said upper arm, an elongated recess formed in an edge wall of said handle near the other end thereof and adapted to receive a can, a first link pivotally connected at one end to said lower arm, a second link pivotally connected at one end to said handle, said links having their other ends pivotally interconnected, a cutter having a downwardly facing cutting edge connected to said second link, said links being actuated by the rotation of said handle to cause downward movement of said cutter for puncturing a hole in the wall of the can, and stop means provided between said upper arm and said handle for limiting the rotation of said handle when puncturing the hole in the can.

8. A can punch comprising a V-shaped bracket having upper and lower arms, an elongated handle pivoted to said upper arm and extending below said lower arm, a recess formed in an edge wall of said handle and adapted to receive a can, said recess being located in the part of the handle which is below said lower arm, a pair of links which are pivotally connected, one link being pivotally connected to said lower arm and the other link being pivotally connected to said handle at a point thereon which is below said lower arm, and a cutter carried by said other link, said links being actuated by the rotation of said handle to cause downward movement of said cutter for punching a hole in the wall of the can. 7

9. A can punch comprising a V-shaped bracket having upper and lower arms, said lower arm being substantially horizontal, an elongated handle pivoted on one end to said upper arm and extending below said lower arm, a recess formed in an edge wall of said handle and adapted to hold a can, said recess being located in the part of the handle which is below said lower arm, a pair of links which are pivotally connected, one link being pivotally connected to said lower arm and the other link being pivotally connected to said handle at a point thereon which is below said lower arm, and a cutter carried by said other link, said links being actuated by the rotation of said handle to cause downward movement of said cutter for punching a hole in a wall of the can.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,596,476 Forstrum May 13, 1952 2,701,413 Staller Feb. 8, 1955 2,843,930 Wilmuth July 22, 1958 

